Necklace pendant

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments of a necklace pendant are provided. In some exemplary embodiments, a necklace pendant is provided including a central portion having a left side and a right side, a left inner portion comprising a first left inner portion pivotally connected to a second left inner portion, wherein the second left inner portion is pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion, and a right inner portion comprising a first right inner portion pivotally connected to a second right inner portion, wherein the first right inner portion is pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion. The second left inner portion folds behind the left side of the central portion and the first left inner portion folds behind the second left inner portion, and the first right inner portion folds behind the right side of the central portion and the second right inner portion folds behind the first right inner portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/358,695 filed Jul. 6, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to exemplary embodiments of a necklace pendant, and more particularly, to exemplary embodiments of an expanding and foldable necklace pendant.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Necklaces and pendants are often worn by people as common forms of jewelry around the neck. Pendants are often changed on necklaces and different pendants can be combined with different necklaces. This can become tedious and lead to losing pendants. A single pendant that can provide different looks is desirable.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

At least some of the above described problems can be addressed by exemplary embodiments of the apparatus according to the present disclosure. Exemplary embodiments of an expanding and foldable necklace pendant are provided that can provide a first look in an unfolded configuration and a second different look in a folded configuration.

In some exemplary embodiments, a necklace pendant can be provided comprising a central portion having a left side and a right side, a left inner portion pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion, a right inner portion pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion, a left outer portion pivotally connected to the left inner portion, and a right outer portion pivotally connected to the right inner portion.

In some exemplary embodiments, the left inner portion can comprise a first left inner portion pivotally connected to a second left inner portion, the left outer portion can comprise a first left outer portion pivotally connected to a second left outer portion, the right inner portion can comprise a first right inner portion pivotally connected to a second right inner portion, and the right outer portion can comprise a first right outer portion pivotally connected to a second right outer portion. In some exemplary embodiments, the second left inner portion can be pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion, the second left outer portion can be pivotally connected to the first left inner portion, the first right inner portion can be pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion, and the first right outer portion can be pivotally connected to the second right inner portion.

In some exemplary embodiments, wherein in a folded configuration, the second left inner portion can be folded behind the left side of the central portion, the first left inner portion can be folded behind the second left inner portion, the second left outer portion can be folded behind the first left inner portion, and the first left outer portion can be folded behind the second left outer portion. In the folded configuration, the first right inner portion can be folded behind the right side of the central portion, the second right inner portion can be folded behind the first right inner portion, the first right outer portion can be folded behind the second right inner portion, and the second right outer portion can be folded behind the first right outer portion. In some exemplary embodiments, the first left outer portion can be connected to a first end portion that is connected to a necklace, and the second right outer portion can be connected to a second end portion that is connected to the necklace.

The necklace pendant can further comprise a first end portion that is connected to the left outer portion on a first end and a necklace on a second opposite end, and a second end portion that is connected to the right outer portion on a first end and the necklace on a second opposite end. In some exemplary embodiments, the central portion, left inner portion, left outer portion, right inner portion and right outer portion have the same shape. The shape can be a heart shape. In some exemplary embodiments, a size of the left inner portion, left outer portion, right inner portion and right outer portion can be slightly smaller than a size of the central portion.

The necklace pendant can further comprise a locking mechanism connected to the central portion and configured to be in an engaged position and non-engaged position, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to secure the left inner portion, left outer portion, right inner portion and right outer portion to the central portion in the engaged position.

In some exemplary embodiments, a necklace pendant can be provided comprising a central portion having a left side and a right side, a left inner portion comprising a first left inner portion pivotally connected to a second left inner portion, wherein the second left inner portion is pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion, and a right inner portion comprising a first right inner portion pivotally connected to a second right inner portion, wherein the first right inner portion is pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion, wherein the second left inner portion folds behind the left side of the central portion and the first left inner portion folds behind the second left inner portion, and the first right inner portion folds behind the right side of the central portion and the second right inner portion folds behind the first right inner portion. In some exemplary embodiments, the left inner portion and right inner portion can have the same shape as the central portion, such as a heart shape.

The necklace pendant can further comprise a left outer portion pivotally connected to the left inner portion, wherein the left outer portion comprises a first left outer portion pivotally connected to a second left outer portion, and a right outer portion pivotally connected to the right inner portion, wherein the right outer portion comprises a first right outer portion pivotally connected to a second right outer portion. The second left outer portion can be pivotally connected to the first left inner portion, and the first right outer portion can be pivotally connected to the second right inner portion. The second left outer portion can fold behind the first left inner portion, the first left outer portion can fold behind the second left outer portion, the first right outer portion can fold behind the second right inner portion, and the second right outer portion can fold behind the first right outer portion.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first left outer portion can be connected to a first end portion that is connected to a necklace, and the second right outer portion can be connected to a second end portion that is connected to the necklace. In some exemplary embodiments, a size of the left inner portion and the right inner portion can be slightly smaller than a size of the central portion.

The necklace pendant can further comprise a locking mechanism connected to the central portion and configured to be in an engaged position and non-engaged position, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to secure the left inner portion and right inner portion to the central portion in the engaged position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects of the present disclosure will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front view of a necklace pendant in an expanded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a rear view of a necklace pendant in an expanded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a front view of a necklace pendant in a folded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a rear view of a necklace pendant in a folded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF DISCLOSURE

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide for various configurations of a necklace pendant. Exemplary embodiments of the necklace pendant will now be described with reference to the figures.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front view of a necklace pendant 100 in an expanded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The necklace pendant 100 can have a central portion 110 that can have a design, such as but not limited to a heart shape. The necklace pendant can have inner portions 112, 122 that are connected to the central portion 110 on a left side and a right side of the central portion 110, respectively, and outer portions 114, 124 connected to the inner portions 112, 122, respectively. The inner portions 112, 122 and outer portions 114, 124 can also have a design, such as but not limited to a heart shape, and can be an identical or similar shape and size as the central portion 110. In some exemplary embodiments, the inner portions 112, 122 and outer portions 114, 124 can be a similar shape and a slightly smaller size than the central portion 110. In some exemplary embodiments, the inner portions 112, 122 and outer portions 114, 124 can be an identical shape and size.

In some exemplary embodiments, the central portion 110 can have a left inner portion 112 and a left outer portion 114 on a left side of the central portion 110, and a right inner portion 122 and a right outer portion 124 on a right side of the central portion 110, as shown in FIG. 1. The left inner portion 112 can be connected to the central portion 110 on a left side, and a left outer portion 114 can be connected to the left inner portion 112. The right inner portion 122 can be connected to the central portion 110 on a right side, and a right outer portion 124 can be connected to the right inner portion 122.

The left inner portion 112 can have a hinge 130 that divides the left inner portion 112 into a first left inner portion 112 a and a second left inner portion 112 b. The hinge 130 can allow the first left inner portion 112 a and the second left inner portion 112 b to fold inward in a direction d along the hinge 130 so that the first left inner portion 112 a and the second left inner portion 112 b lie adjacent to each other as will be described below. The right inner portion 122 can have a hinge 130 that divides the right inner portion 122 into a first right inner portion 122 a and a second right inner portion 122 b. The hinge 130 can allow the first right inner portion 122 a and the second right inner portion 122 b to fold inward in a direction d along the hinge 130 so that the first right inner portion 122 a and the second right inner portion 122 b lie adjacent to each other as will be described below. The second left inner portion 112 b can be connected to a left side of the central portion 110 and the first right inner portion 122 a can be connected to a right side of the central portion 110.

The left outer portion 114 can have a hinge 130 that divides the left outer portion 114 into a first left outer portion 114 a and a second left outer portion 114 b. The hinge 130 can allow the first left outer portion 114 a and the second left outer portion 114 b to fold inward in a direction d along the hinge 130 so that the first left outer portion 114 a and the second left outer portion 114 b lie adjacent to each other as will be described below. The second left outer portion 114 b can be connected to the first left inner portion 112 a. The right outer portion 124 can have a hinge 130 that divides the right outer portion 124 into a first right outer portion 124 a and a second right outer portion 124 b. The hinge 130 can allow the first right outer portion 124 a and the second right outer portion 124 b to fold inward in a direction d along the hinge 130 so that the first right outer portion 124 a and the second right outer portion 124 b lie adjacent to each other as will be described below. The first right outer portion 124 a can be connected to the second right inner portion 122 b.

End portions 116, 126 can be provided along the ends of the necklace pendant 100 and connected to the outer portions 114, 124, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. For example, end portion 116 can be connected to first left outer portion 114 a of left outer portion 114, and end portion 126 can be connected to second right outer portion 124 b of right outer portion 124. In some exemplary embodiments, the end portions 116, 126 can be made integral with the outer portions 114, 124. For example, end portion 116 can be made integral with first left outer portion 114 a, and end portion 126 can be made integral with second right outer portion 124 b. The end portions 116, 126 can also have a design, which can be identical to the inner portions 112, 122 and/or outer portions 114, 124, or can be identical to the first and second left inner portions 112 a, 112 b, the first and second left outer portions 114 a, 114 b, the first and second right inner portions 122 a, 122 b, and/or the first and second right outer portions 124 a, 124 b. The end portions 116, 126 can have any design, such as but not limited to a half-heart shape. The end portions 116, 126 can be connected to a necklace 120 on outer portions thereof, as shown in FIG. 1.

A locking mechanism 140 can be provided to lock the necklace pendant 100 in a folded configuration as will be described below. The locking mechanism 140 can have a design, such as but not limited to an arrow shape. The locking mechanism 140 can be connected to the central portion 110 directly, or through a connecting portion 150, which can have a rod shape or other design.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a rear view of a necklace pendant 100 in an expanded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Hinges 160 can allow the inner portions 112, 122 to fold inward in a direction a along the hinge 160 so that the inner portions 112, 122 fold behind the central portion 110. For example, second left inner portion 112 b can fold behind a left portion of central portion 110 and first right inner portion 122 a can fold behind a right side of central portion 110. Hinges 160 can also allow outer portions 114, 124 to be folded inward in a direction a along the hinges 160 so that the outer portions 114, 124 fold behind inner portions 112, 122, respectively. For example, second left outer portion 114 b can fold behind first left inner portion 112 a, and first right outer portion 124 a can fold behind second right inner portion 122 b.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a front view of a necklace pendant 100 in a folded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the hinges 130 and 160 allow the inner portions 112, 122 and the outer portions 114, 124 to fold behind the central portion 110. Specifically, the hinges 130 and 160 allow the first and second left inner portions 112 a, 112 b, first and second left outer portions 114 a, 114 b, first and second right inner portions 122 a, 122 b, and first and second right outer portions 124 a, 124 b to be folded behind the central portion 110. This can allow a user to wear the necklace pendant in both an expanded (FIG. 1) or unfolded configuration and an unexpanded or folded configuration (FIG. 3). The user can also wear the necklace pendant in a partly folded configuration. For example, the user can wear the necklace pendant 100 so that the left inner portion 112 and the right inner portion 122 are folded behind the central portion 110, while the left outer portion 114 and right outer portion 124 are visible along with the central portion 110, or can wear the necklace pendant 100 so that the left outer portion 114 is folded behind the left inner portion 112, and the right outer portion 124 is folded behind the right inner portion 122, so that the left inner portion 112 and right inner portion 122 are visible along with the central portion 110. In some exemplary embodiments, the inner and outer portions can be made slightly smaller than the central portion 110 so they are not visible when viewing the central portion 110 from the front.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a rear view of a necklace pendant 100 in a folded configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The locking mechanism 140 can be folded behind the central portion 110 (e.g., by folding the connecting portion or rod 150 that is connected to a top of the central portion 110). As shown, the locking mechanism 140 can abut the faces of the outer portions 114, 124 (for example, first left outer portion 114 a and second right outer portion 124 b) to hold and secure the inner portions 112, 122 and the outer portions 114, 124 to the central portion 110 when in the folded configuration.

Various other considerations can also be addressed in the exemplary applications described according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, various materials may be used to construct the elements described in the figures, such as but not limited to metal, stones, glass, plastic, paper or any combination thereof. Various sizes, colors, shapes, designs and dimensions of the elements can be provided. For example, the central, inner and outer portions can have various shapes and sizes that can be folded against each other to provide for various designs and configurations of the expandable and foldable necklace pendant. Hinges or other various folding mechanisms can be provided for folding the inner and outer portions. Various advantages are provided in the necklace pendant according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the necklace pendant can provided for a different look in a folded configuration and a different look in an unfolded or partly unfolded configuration. The pendant can also be provided for other types of jewelry besides a necklace, such as but not limited to a bracelet, armlet or anklet.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, manufacture and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A necklace pendant, comprising: a central portion having a left side and a right side; a left inner portion pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion; a right inner portion pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion; a left outer portion pivotally connected to the left inner portion; and a right outer portion pivotally connected to the right inner portion.
 2. The necklace pendant according to claim 1, wherein: the left inner portion comprises a first left inner portion pivotally connected to a second left inner portion; the left outer portion comprises a first left outer portion pivotally connected to a second left outer portion; the right inner portion comprises a first right inner portion pivotally connected to a second right inner portion; and the right outer portion comprises a first right outer portion pivotally connected to a second right outer portion.
 3. The necklace pendant according to claim 2, wherein the second left inner portion is pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion, the second left outer portion is pivotally connected to the first left inner portion, the first right inner portion is pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion, and the first right outer portion is pivotally connected to the second right inner portion.
 4. The necklace pendant according to claim 2, wherein in a folded configuration, the second left inner portion is folded behind the left side of the central portion, the first left inner portion is folded behind the second left inner portion, the second left outer portion is folded behind the first left inner portion, and the first left outer portion is folded behind the second left outer portion.
 5. The necklace pendant according to claim 4, wherein in a folded configuration, the first right inner portion is folded behind the right side of the central portion, the second right inner portion is folded behind the first right inner portion, the first right outer portion is folded behind the second right inner portion, and the second right outer portion is folded behind the first right outer portion.
 6. The necklace pendant according to claim 2, wherein the first left outer portion is connected to a first end portion that is connected to a necklace, and the second right outer portion is connected to a second end portion that is connected to the necklace.
 7. The necklace pendant according to claim 1, further comprising: a first end portion that is connected to the left outer portion on a first end and a necklace on a second opposite end, and a second end portion that is connected to the right outer portion on a first end and the necklace on a second opposite end.
 8. The necklace pendant according to claim 1, wherein the central portion, left inner portion, left outer portion, right inner portion and right outer portion have the same shape.
 9. The necklace pendant according to claim 8, wherein the shape is a heart shape.
 10. The necklace pendant according to claim 8, wherein a size of the left inner portion, left outer portion, right inner portion and right outer portion is slightly smaller than a size of the central portion.
 11. The necklace pendant according to claim 1, further comprising: a locking mechanism connected to the central portion and configured to be in an engaged position and non-engaged position, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to secure the left inner portion, left outer portion, right inner portion and right outer portion to the central portion in the engaged position.
 12. A necklace pendant, comprising: a central portion having a left side and a right side; a left inner portion comprising a first left inner portion pivotally connected to a second left inner portion, wherein the second left inner portion is pivotally connected to the left side of the central portion; and a right inner portion comprising a first right inner portion pivotally connected to a second right inner portion, wherein the first right inner portion is pivotally connected to the right side of the central portion; wherein the second left inner portion folds behind the left side of the central portion and the first left inner portion folds behind the second left inner portion; and the first right inner portion folds behind the right side of the central portion and the second right inner portion folds behind the first right inner portion.
 13. The necklace pendant according to claim 12, wherein the left inner portion and right inner portion have the same shape as the central portion.
 14. The necklace pendant according to claim 13, wherein the shape is a heart shape.
 15. The necklace pendant according to claim 12, further comprising: a left outer portion pivotally connected to the left inner portion, wherein the left outer portion comprises a first left outer portion pivotally connected to a second left outer portion; and a right outer portion pivotally connected to the right inner portion, wherein the right outer portion comprises a first right outer portion pivotally connected to a second right outer portion.
 16. The necklace pendant according to claim 15, wherein the second left outer portion is pivotally connected to the first left inner portion, and the first right outer portion is pivotally connected to the second right inner portion.
 17. The necklace pendant according to claim 16, wherein the second left outer portion folds behind the first left inner portion, the first left outer portion folds behind the second left outer portion, the first right outer portion folds behind the second right inner portion, and the second right outer portion folds behind the first right outer portion.
 18. The necklace pendant according to claim 16, wherein the first left outer portion is connected to a first end portion that is connected to a necklace, and the second right outer portion is connected to a second end portion that is connected to the necklace.
 19. The necklace pendant according to claim 12, wherein a size of the left inner portion and the right inner portion is slightly smaller than a size of the central portion.
 20. The necklace pendant according to claim 12, further comprising: a locking mechanism connected to the central portion and configured to be in an engaged position and non-engaged position, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to secure the left inner portion and right inner portion to the central portion in the engaged position. 